Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) and the Institute of Public Administration and Management, University of Sierra Leone (IPAM-USL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen training and professional standards in public procurement.
The agreement focuses on collaboration in education, research, and technical support to improve procurement practices across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). It outlines plans for joint curriculum development, short professional courses, internships, and research activities related to public procurement and financial management.
NPPA Chief Executive Officer, Fodie J. Konneh, said the partnership is intended to align regulatory practice with academic training and help improve competence among procurement officers in the public sector. He noted that strengthening skills and certification pathways is necessary for sustaining procurement reforms.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of IPAM-USL, Professor Duramani Lakkoh, said the institution would work to ensure that its programmes reflect national reform priorities. He added that the collaboration would expand internship opportunities for students and support research linked to public administration and governance.
The MoU also provides for the establishment of a Joint Coordination Committee made up of representatives from both institutions. The committee will oversee implementation through annual work plans and specific service agreements defining deliverables and timelines.
Key areas of cooperation include capacity building, policy dialogue, compliance support, and the promotion of electronic government procurement systems. The agreement contains provisions on data protection, confidentiality, and conflict-of-interest management.
The MoU will run for five years, subject to review. Officials say activities carried out under the framework will comply with public finance and procurement regulations.
The signing notably marks a formal step toward closer collaboration between a regulatory authority and a public university on procurement governance in Sierra Leone.
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